One week ago, I attend the Dirty South Yoga Fest. If you read my prior blog, you already know this. Last week I promised that I would write about my experience and as the week progressed, I felt led to do more than recap my experience. I am going to tell you all about the weekend but there’s more, there’s deeper work, soul searching work that occurred after the festival.
On Friday night, my friend and fellow yoga sister, Rose and I attended the DSYF kick-off party which included yoga, mantra, and music. Ruby Velle, Ziggy Moon, and Charisse Williams have beautiful voices. Their soulful class was a reminder that yoga is more than asana. Yoga off the mat is why I do this work and they reinforced, that I’m on the right path to inspire and help people take yoga into their daily lives. There were several vendors present including the designer of possibility bags, Emily, owner of emilyyellow.com. I bought one of her free spirit crossbody bags at last year’s festival. This year I picked up the SoulMate, and trust it holds all the things. Love this bag! If you have been thinking about getting one of her bags, you won’t regret your purchase. Other vendors present included massage therapist, Bela, Ketel One Botanical, Haven, Doctor D’s (amazing sparkling probiotic beverage…. grape is my favorite), and several local jewelry designers.
On Saturday I attended 2 power yoga classes and a candlelight Yin class. As much as a I love power, my heart flutters for stillness. The Yin class was led by Laura Clower. It was a great balance to the heat and flow of the power classes. I wanted to attend Yoga Playground with Eazy on Saturday evening but couldn’t attend due to personal obligations. I have yet to make it to one of his classes in Atlanta yet but it is on my list.
Sunday, I started the day with the Queen of Chill, Mrs. Octavia Raheem. Every time I attend Octavia’s class my spirit is moved. She speaks to my soul. Octavia has an aura of peace and tranquility that makes me feel that all is right in this world. If you haven’t had the opportunity to take her class or attend one of her workshops, I implore you to go ahead and sign up. You won’t regret it. After Octavia’s class I attended Core for Inversions with Dominique Davis. Dominique’s class motivated me to return to practicing arm balances and inversions. This week I’ve caught a little hang time in Pinchamayurasa. Don’t get me wrong a little hang time is great, but I have to keep practicing and must maintain the basic foundations and drills that result in holding inversions and arm balance poses. The last class I attended was the SoundEmbrace sound bath. The compilation of gongs, shamanic drums, and the crystal bowls were spiritually and emotionally healing. Sound healing is transformative. The vibrations and sound shift your awareness and perspective of healing from inside out. I have attended several sound baths in the past and was floored by Danielle and her team.
Following the last class of the day there was a wellness bazaar that included vendors, healers, practitioners, and acroyoga. For those that are local to Atlanta I recommend you attend the Dirty South Yoga Fest. You will grow as a practitioner and find a community of yogis that you might not have ever met. I met 5 people that I immediately clicked with and we connected on social media and plan to support each other’s classes and events. Yoga is community. There is a place for us all here.
If you’re still reading here lies the deeper work, the crux of this blog. Throughout the DSYF weekend, yoga teachers, friends, and social media friends repeatedly asked, “Are you teaching this weekend,” “What class are you teaching;” I informed them that I wasn’t teaching any classes. The follow up question was, “Why not.” I didn’t really have an answer. Over this last week, I have mulled over “why not” and I have come to the conclusion that the answer is fear. The fear of no one showing up, fear of comparison to others, fear of not being chosen. Fear will mess with your head and your heart. Fear has no place in my heart nor does it have a place in yours. Fear keeps us stagnant, bound, and trapped. I’m a modest, easy going person. I cheerlead, encourage, and support everyone else; however, I find it difficult to cheer for myself. I wonder why that is. Is it the concept that I’m not enough or that I don’t deserve “this” or perhaps the idea that I should stay quiet rather than speak up?
My friend and yoga teacher, Shelley Lowther (@thisbadasslife on IG) says take up space, be loud. So here I stand ready to take up space, to stand in my power, and be loud. I release fear, I release uncertainty, and I release the act of thinking small. I choose power, I choose peace, and I choose greatness. I choose to step into possibility. I choose to be a YES to Stephanie. I choose to be a YES to all that God and the universe has for me. So, with that being said, this last week I dove head first into expansion and possibility. I have contacted several organizations for collaborative opportunities. I submitted to be a presenter at a yoga festival in another state (I can’t believe I did it). I think what’s hardest about submitting a proposal is the possibility that the answer will be no. I have learned that if I never try, I won’t ever know if there is an option of a yes because I chose fear over possibility.
Earlier this year I submitted to present on yoga and meditation at a runner’s conference and I received a notification that I wasn’t chosen. I wasn’t “in my feelings” about being told no, but I do think that not being chosen slowed my momentum. I began to compare myself to others…. which is never a good idea. I was comparing my mission, physical appearance, teaching style, accomplishments, social media, etc. I was in a training class this spring with Shelley and a group of yogis from around Atlanta when we were having a discussion on a topic (I can’t remember the topic) when she quoted Thomas Jefferson. The quote is “comparison is the thief of joy.” That quote was mind blowing. It was as if I came out of this fog and could finally see clearly. I couldn’t believe that after all that I had done in my life, and all the work I continue to do, that I found myself living in the shadows and letting comparison weigh me down. Comparison is a natural part of life, but I choose not to dwell in it anymore. Now, whenever I begin to compare myself, I repeat “comparison is the thief of joy.” I then let the comparison go and know that I am content (santosha) where I am and know that opportunities to change lives are endless. Comparison has no place in my heart and neither does fear. I am looking forward to this next year. I don’t know exactly what is to come but I do know that greatness lies ahead.
